Dilemma before Security

The 9/11 incident has become a referral point in security, so to say. But can we say most of us have become more security-conscious after that rude awakening? The answer would be both yes and no. Be that as it may, one thing has been certain. 9/11 has led to tremendous growth and application of technologies in aid to security, at least in developed countries. ID cards with biometric features and CCTVs have acquired Orwellian dimension and are now seen at public places including shopping centers or tourist spots, etc. "Walk a kilometer or two down Oxford Street (London), your image will be captured by 17 cameras. The average Londoner is now photographed 300 times a day." But all these can make you feel safe rather than making you safe really. The proliferation of gadgets may not have any effect on violent crime or acts of terrorism, security experts on the ground feel. Still, one cannot do away with this and sit idle and watch things to happen. Herein comes the need - rather imperative need - for developing human assets and collecting human intelligence. The lack of adequate human intelligence has been best illustrated in Afghanistan. The US intelligence authorities are, therefore, believed to be planning penetrative human intelligence in search of Osama bin Laden. An integrated security and intelligence system is the need of the day. Security professionals in all fields of activities have indeed great lessons to learn form the US experience.

D.C. Nath, IPS (Retd.)
Former Special Director, IB (MHA), Govt. of India,
Executive President & CEO,
International Institute of Security and Safety Management, India.